Booker T gives the middle finger to the WWE

MR. PEACHES · 04-03-2009, 06:04 AM

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Former WWE World Champion and current TNA wrestler, Booker T posted a letter on his official Legends of Wrestling Fanfest website in regard to World Wrestling Entertainment pulling talents that agreed to appear on his event but later pulled out after WWE contacted them. Below is the complete letter:

AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL PRO-WRESTLING FANS:

I want to take this opportunity to let the entire wrestling world understand both my frustration and anger, at what should be a momentous time for myself and those close to me. It was nearly two years ago when I made one of the toughest decisions in my life and decided not to re-sign a contract with the WWE. Several factors came into this decision, but at the end of the day I wanted to be able to prove to myself and to anyone with any doubts, that I was indeed a 'self-made' man. I had achieved so much in this business that I love before the WWE, and I felt that with the help of my wife and beloved family and friends, that I could achieve so much more.

Many of you are aware of the labor of love to me that is the PWA (Pro-Wrestling Alliance). PWA has honestly been the culmination of hard-work, sacrifice and undying determination by several people. This organization continues to be a driving force in helping me to entertain and improve the community that I came from. The PWA is also the catalyst for my ultimate calling in life which is the Booker T. Fights For Kids Foundation. I, along with my wife have had several sleepless nights, as we've fought to build an organization that we can be proud of. We face the same challenges that many independent promoters around the world face, in bringing fans an alternative to experiencing professional wrestling.

Just as many fans are aware of the PWA, even more fans were excited to hear about the upcoming Booker T 'Legends of Wrestling' Fanfest taking place this Friday (4/3/09) here in my hometown of Houston, Texas. The Fanfest is totally independent of TNA Wrestling, and is being produced solely by my wife, myself and the PWA staff. The Legends of Wrestling Fanfest will be the biggest and best ever event where fans can come face-to-face with some of the biggest stars (past and present) that this business has ever known. This event has been well- planned over the last year, with many of my peers (friends and foes alike) offering to donate their time and prized possessions in an effort to make this event a success for the benefit of the Fights for Kids Foundation.

We suffered a setback recently when the WWE unexpectedly pulled eight of the invited participants from our Fanfest. Each of these participants had already either gotten clearance from WWE or were not previously contacted to appear in any Wrestlemania weekend activities this year. It was only after we published the list of participants, that the WWE unlawfully interceded and deceptively worked to pull these talents from our event. As a side note, I have contacted legal representation about this deceitful tactics and will weigh my options. I do want to sincerely thank each of the pulled participants for their interest in helping to make this Fanfest the best ever, and I hold no malice towards them. It was instilled into me a very long time ago that the show must go on, so I want to formally announce that 'The Hardcore Legend' Mick Foley is yet another recent addition to an already sensational Legends of Wrestling Fanfest Lineup!

I want to believe that the WWE, as large and as powerful as it is, would be beyond examples of such pettiness. This event, as well as the PWA, are supporting the Fights for Kids foundation so it consumes me with remorse to see the WWE act in this fashion. Make no mistake however, I have been an underdog my entire life, so I have no problem in taking on yet another Goliath. And we all know what happened to Goliath, and I know you can dig that...

Booker T.

Vince McMahon must hate charity events.

Necro · 04-03-2009, 06:11 AM

I'm sure WWE does plenty of charity events. Why would Vince offer up his contracted talent to someone who left WWE for another company?

MR. PEACHES · 04-03-2009, 06:40 AM

First off, The wrestlers said they would participate and they weren't involved in any Wrestlemania activities. Secondly, It's a PWA charity event not a TNA event so why should Vince care so much about a company that probably won't ever challenge the E and let his lower card wrestlers make some money for charity?

Broken Star · 04-03-2009, 08:09 AM

I'm just laughing at the fact that Booker thinks he has any sort of a case in the first place.

MR. PEACHES · 04-03-2009, 08:15 AM

Didn't the WWE get owned by Memphis in court for doing the same exact thing a few years ago?

Broken Star · 04-03-2009, 08:31 AM

I don't see how Booker could possibly have a case without having any of the people under contract? I'm not sure about the Memphis case, though I'm guessing thy would have had to have had some kind of contract with the wrestlers for them to go to court against WWE and win.

Guardian Devil · 04-03-2009, 08:52 AM

Lol Booker T, you aren't going to sue anyone, shut up.

MR. PEACHES · 04-03-2009, 09:29 AM

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Memphis wrestling promoter Corey Maclin's lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE was dismissed today by United States District Judge Bernice B. Donald as the two sides came to an out of court settlement that was not publicly disclosed.

Maclin filed the lawsuit last January, stemming from WWE's decision to pull Jerry Lawler from an event that Maclin had booked in Memphis for April 2007, headlined by Lawler vs. Hulk Hogan.

At the time, Lawler claimed during a press conference that he had to pull out due to his WWE announcer's contract not allowing him to work the match since footage would be shot for Hogan's VH-1 reality show. Of course, at that time Hogan and McMahon were not on good terms due to a falling out before WrestleMania 23 in Detroit over Hogan's worth to the show.

Big Show took Lawler's place as he was in between WWE runs at the time. Hogan won the bout, which drew in the area of 4,000 fans. As it turned out, the Memphis footage was never used on "Hogan Knows Best."

Maclin claimed in his filing that World Wrestling Entertainment had violated section two of the federal Sherman Anti-Trust Act and that McMahon used his influence with other wrestlers to keep them from working for Maclin, due to his feelings toward Hogan.

not exactly owned but this is what came out of the lawsuit a few years ago and this one could end up being the same

RobyD · 04-03-2009, 10:39 AM

Eh, on one hand, it is kind of suspicious some of the names that were contacted and picked up. On the other, it's Wrestlemania, so WWE very likely may have wanted all the names they could get.

RaiZ-R · 04-03-2009, 10:46 AM

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Originally Posted by Rickey Henderson
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I'm sure WWE does plenty of charity events. Why would Vince offer up his contracted talent to someone who left WWE for another company?

None of the wrestlers or guests that Booker had were contracted to WWE, and even if they were they weren't scheduled to appear at Wrestlemania or any of the axxess events or else they wouldn't have confirmed in the first place. Also, they would've had to get WWE's permission before confirming anything if they were under contract, supporting the notion that none of those confirmed for the show were under contract to Vince.

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Originally Posted by Suicidal Dream
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I'm just laughing at the fact that Booker thinks he has any sort of a case in the first place.

Bookers got a pretty sound base for legal action to be quite honest. WWE have very unsubtly removed talent from his show, and have cost his charity money in the process. It was under-handed, petty and pathetic.

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Originally Posted by Suicidal Dream
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I don't see how Booker could possibly have a case without having any of the people under contract? I'm not sure about the Memphis case, though I'm guessing thy would have had to have had some kind of contract with the wrestlers for them to go to court against WWE and win.

A contract for a charity event is different to that of an event where the participants are being paid for their services. Now it's entirely possible that these guest were being paid out of Booker's pocket, so they would have contracts, however even in that case the amount would be no where near their usual pay-off for such a show. If you volunteer your time, for free, to a charity event you are able to pull out for a miriad of reasons, that would likely include an event where the talent would be getting paid their full usual fee. So a contract's may well have been signed, but with the stipulation that they were allowed to pull out unhindered by Booker. That however doesn't change the fact that a) it's blatant poaching on WWE's part, b) it's talent that was never a part of the originally planned axxess events and as such could easily be allowed to appear at a charity event two days before their scheduled appearance at 'Mania, and c) WWE could still use that talent for the axxess events on other dates except the Friday, depending on the contracts signed to Booker of course.

Booker T gives the middle finger to the WWE

This is a discussion on Booker T gives the middle finger to the WWE within the Wrestling News & Rumors forums, part of the Wrestling Forums category; Former WWE World Champion and current TNA wrestler, Booker T posted a letter on his official Legends of Wrestling Fanfest ...